Spring device with capability of intermittent random energy accumulator and kinetics release trigger

ABSTRACT

A spring device includes an intermittent accumulator and kinetics release trigger that gradually winds up to accumulate energy as driven by manual or other random intermittent kinetics and drives an kinetics release control to trigger off the spring to release kinetics to drive a load once the kinetics to the spring is accumulated to a preset value.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to a spring device for accumulating random kinetics in the spring to release higher power output or to drive a load at higher rpm, and more particularly to a device that gradually restoring non-continuous kinetics, kinetics at lower rpm, or instable kinetics through a transmission to accumulate kinetics by winding the spring, and to drive the release controller while the accumulator rises to a preset value to trigger the spring to release kinetics for driving a load until the release of the kinetics reaches a periodically balanced status with the load side.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

Conventional driving approach by manual cranking, pulling or winding such as a hand cranking or pedal generator; or a device driven by wind such as a micro wind generator or pump; or a device generating power by kinetics; or a device generating power by vibration; or a device driven by a balance wheel or a motive block such as one produced by SEIKO in which the random kinetics from the balance wheel charges an electric storage device through a generator driven by an acceleration gear, with the electric energy supplied from the electric storage device to drive the dynamo-electric power system of the movement of a quartz wristwatch. However, such configurations were found with defectives including intermittent discontinuous kinetics from the balance wheel or weak kinetics from the balance wheel will slower the rpm of the generator even driven though acceleration gear is provided, which fail to fully charge the unsaturated rechargeable electric storage device due to lower voltage output of the generator, and also waste the kinetics from the balance wheel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a spring device that is adapted as an intermittent energy accumulator and an energy release trigger. The spring gradually winds up by manual or other random intermittent kinetics for energy accumulation to a preset value to drive the energy release control device for the spring to release the energy to further drive a load.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is the first schematic diagram showing a configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is the second schematic diagram showing another configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is the third schematic diagram showing another configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is the forth schematic diagram showing another configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing operation relation between spring accumulation value and deceleration ratio of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Conventional manual drive, or random discontinuous drive, or drive at low rpm, or drive with unstable random kinetics usually insufficient to drive a load effectively. Taking a manually driven generator for example, it generates pulse output voltage due to instable speed or the output voltage is insufficient at lower rpm since it is difficult for the manual drive to drive at uniform speed. Similar defect is found with a pedal generator. When driven by an unbalanced wheel or motive block, the rpm also appears lower or instable; and similar defect occurs when the load is driven by wind or tidal energy. If driven by any of these forms of kinetics, the generated voltage from the generator often gets too low for meaningful use due to lower rpm and result in the waste of energy. For example, if the generator operates for charging purpose and its output voltage is lower than that of a rechargeable energy storage device (ESD), or when operates for driving an energy driven light emitting device (LED), and the output voltage is insufficient to reach that enables LED, i.e., to reach the level of working voltage of the LED; or when operates for driving a mechanical displacement device, and the force created by energy fails to overcome the static friction in the mechanism; energy is wasted in nothing since the weaker kinetics input would become ineffective power.

The spring device adapted as intermittent energy accumulator and energy release trigger of the present invention relates to one that is driven by a transmission to accumulate kinetics from those discontinuous, slower rpm or instable kinetics, and is triggered off to release the accumulated kinetics through a release control device once the accumulation of the spring device mounts up to a preset output value to release greater power output or higher rpm in driving a load. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of the present invention. The present invention is essentially comprised of:

an input mechanism 101: including a rolling shaft, a roller wheel, or a handle or any other that permits rotational drive, reciprocal pull, swing, or vibration subject to be driven by manual, mechanical, electromagnetic, electric motor force or kinetics, or subject to one way or two-way drive by natural force to produce one-way displacement drive kinetics;

an energy accumulation transmission device 102: is related to an optional item installed by requirement or not, which includes various types of devices of acceleration, deceleration, uniform speed, changing motion for circulation or linear transmission, e.g., a transmission gear set or gear system or linkages, for transmission of mechanical kinetics from the input mechanism 101 to drive a spring 103 to be described below;

the spring 103: a spring device to accumulate mechanic energy from the input mechanism 101 includes vortex, spiral, sheet, or any other form of spring device that allows accumulation of mechanical energy;

an energy release control clutch device 104: comprised of a mechanical clutch with its torque limit actuation function that may be fixed, preset or adjustable, or of a friction clutch provided with a static friction value greater than a dynamic friction, or of a clutch with limited torque value controlled by electromagnetic or fluid force; and may be provided in any of the following methods as applicable:

(1) One of both interaction ends of the clutch 104 is linked to the output end of the spring 103 and coupled to the input end of a load 105 and the other is connected to a static part 106, when the elasticity from the spring 103 is subject to reaches its critical value, the clutch 104 is released to output the accumulated energy to drive a load 105 and the energy release control clutch device 104 is closed again when the spring 103 stops outputting as illustrated in FIG. 1 for a schematic diagram showing a configuration of the present invention; or

(2) Both interaction ends of the energy release control clutch 104 device are connected between the motive part of the load 105 and the static part 106 of the casing; when the elastic force from the spring 103 is subject to reaches its critical value, the energy release control clutch device 104 is released to output the accumulated energy from the spring 103 to drive the load 105 and the energy release control clutch device 104 is closed again while the spring 103 stops outputting as illustrated in FIG. 2 for a schematic diagram showing another configuration of the present invention; or,

(3) One end of both interaction ends of the energy release control clutch device 104 is coupled to the spring 103 and with a coupling structure of the motive part of the load 105; and the other end is disposed to the static part 106 of the casing; when the elastic force from the spring 103 is subject to reaches its critical value, the energy release control clutch device 104 is released to output the accumulated energy from the spring 103 to drive the load 105 and the energy release control clutch device 104 is closed again when the spring 103 stops outputting as illustrated in FIG. 3 for a schematic diagram showing another configuration of the present invention; or,

(4) The load 105 given with different value between static friction and dynamic friction functions as a damper; the input end of the spring 103 is coupled to the output end of the accumulation transmission 102 to accumulate energy from the input mechanism 101; the output end of the spring 103 drives the load 105; the load 105 has a greater static friction than the dynamic friction to provide similar function of energy release control, thus the energy release control clutch device 104 may not be used; when the accumulated torque at the spring 103 reaches the critical value of the static friction, the load 105 turns from static friction status to dynamic friction status for driving; the spring 103 release kinetics to drive the load 105 until the kinetics of the spring 103 is balanced with the dynamic friction value of the load to return the load to static friction status as illustrated in FIG. 4 for a schematic diagram showing another configuration of the present invention.

the load 105: related to any rotational or linear load driven by the spring 103, and more particularly, to one for directly driving a pump or driving a pump through an acceleration or deceleration output transmission 102′ so to further pumping the working liquid, or driving other mechanical load; by directly driving a generator, or driving a generator through the acceleration or deceleration output transmission 102′; the electric energy from the generator in turn directly outputs to drive a load, or charges a rechargeable device; and the electric energy from the rechargeable device is supplied to a wristwatch or a pocket watch to drive a quartz movement or any other movement driven by electric energy, or the electric energy is supplied to a load including a portable communication, video, information AV recorder/player, camera, camera/video recorder, or light emitting device;

the output transmission 102′: related to a rotational or linear transmission of acceleration, deceleration, equal speed, or variable motion forms, e.g., various types of transmission gear sets, or chain system or linkage for transmitting the mechanical drive kinetics inputted to the spring 103 to further drive the load 105; the output transmission 102 is an optional item that may be or may not be provided depending on requirement;

a one-way transmission 107: related to ratchet gear and ratchet wheel structure to engage in one-way drive, or any other one-way transmission; disposed at where between the input end of the spring 103 and the static part 106 of the casing; the input end of the spring 103 relates to any rotational mechanical part disposed between the input mechanism 101 through the accumulation transmission 102 and the input end of the spring 103.

In the spring system adapted as intermittent energy accumulator and energy release trigger of the present invention, if the accumulation transmission 102 is provided with irreversible transmission or a transmission 108 of irreversible transmission is provided, the one-way transmission 107 otherwise disposed at where between the input end of the spring 103 and the static part 106 of the casing may be omitted.

To increase the accumulation efficiency, the accumulation transmission 102 may be comprised of one with its speed variable depending on the value of the torque so that when the accumulation level is lower of the spring 103, the accumulation transmission 102 winds up the spring 103 with smaller torque and faster speed from the input mechanism 101, and later winds up the spring 103 at greater torque and slower speed from the input mechanism 101 when the speed variable ratio changes as the accumulation of the spring 103 increases.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing operation relation between accumulation value and deceleration ratio of the present invention. Wherein, a relates to the accumulation value of the spring 103; and b, the deceleration ratio between the input rpm from the input mechanism 101 and the drive rpm at the input end of the spring 103. The transmission with its speed variable depending on the value of the torque may be of continuous variable transmission, or step variable transmission, the operation methods include manual or automatic speed variation ratio of the conventional speed variable device.

The present invention of a spring device adapted as accumulator and energy release trigger by driving a spring device to gradually wind up from manually driven or other intermittent kinetics, and driving an energy release controller to trigger off the spring to release energy for driving a load once the accumulation in the spring reaches a preset value for effectively accumulate discontinuous kinetics, kinetics at lower rpm, or instable random kinetics to drive the energy release control when the accumulation reaches the preset value to trigger off the spring to release energy for providing higher power and rpm output is innovative with precise functions; and the present invention is further characterized in that an optional deceleration type of output transmission is disposed to help that even minimum kinetics are capable of driving the spring to mount up for accumulation purpose; or an optional acceleration type of output transmission is disposed to accelerate the rpm of the generator; or an optional deceleration type of output transmission is provided to generate output with larger torque and slower rpm. Therefore, this patent application is duly filed. 

1. A spring device includes an intermittent accumulator and kinetics release trigger that gradually winds up to accumulate energy as driven by manual or other intermittent random kinetics and drives an kinetics release control to trigger off the spring to release kinetics to drive a load once the kinetics of the spring is accumulated to a preset value and is essentially comprised of: an input mechanism 101: including a rolling shaft, a roller wheel, or a handle or any other that permits rotational drive, reciprocal pull, swing, or vibration subject to be driven by manual, mechanical, electromagnetic, electric motor force or kinetics, or subject to one way or two-way drive by natural force to produce one-way displacement drive kinetics; an energy accumulation transmission device 102: is related to an optional item installed by requirement or not, which includes various types of devices of acceleration, deceleration, uniform speed, changing motion for circulation or linear transmission, e.g., a transmission gear set or gear system or linkages, for transmission of mechanical kinetics from the input mechanism 101 to drive a spring 103 to be described below; the spring 103: a spring device to accumulate mechanic energy from the input mechanism 101 includes vortex, spiral, sheet, or any other form of spring device that allows accumulation of mechanical energy; an energy release control clutch device 104: comprised of a mechanical clutch with its torque limit actuation function that may be fixed, preset or adjustable, or of a friction clutch provided with a static friction value greater than a dynamic friction, or of a clutch with limited torque value controlled by electromagnetic or fluid force; the load 105: related to any rotational or linear load driven by the spring 103, and more particularly, to one for directly driving a pump or driving a pump through an acceleration or deceleration output transmission 102′ so to further pumping the working liquid, or driving other mechanical load; by directly driving a generator, or driving a generator through the acceleration or deceleration output transmission 102′; the electric energy from the generator in turn directly outputs to drive a load, or charges a rechargeable device; and the electric energy from the rechargeable device is supplied to a wristwatch or a pocket watch to drive a quartz movement or any other movement driven by electric energy, or the electric energy is supplied to a load including a portable communication, video, information AV recorder/player, camera, camera/video recorder, or light emitting device; the output transmission 102′: related to a rotational or linear transmission of acceleration, deceleration, equal speed, or variable motion forms, e.g., various types of transmission gear sets, or chain system or linkage for transmitting the mechanical drive kinetics inputted to the spring 103 to further drive the load 105; the output transmission 102 is an optional item that may be or may not be provided depending on requirement. a one-way transmission 107: related to ratchet gear and ratchet wheel structure to engage in one-way drive, or any other one-way transmission; disposed at where between the input end of the spring 103 and the static part 106 of the casing; the input end of the spring 103 relates to any circulating mechanical part disposed between the input mechanism 101 through the accumulation transmission 102 and the input end of the end of the spring 103; the one-way transmission 107 is an optional item that may be or may not be provided depending on requirement.
 2. A spring device includes an intermittent energy accumulator and kinetics release trigger of claim 1, wherein the energy release control clutch device 104 could be installed in following approach: one of both interaction ends of the clutch 104 is linked to the output end of the spring 103 and coupled to the input end of a load 105 and the other is connected to a static part 106, when the elastic force from the spring 103 is subject to reaches its critical value, the energy release control clutch device 104 is released to output the accumulated energy to drive a load 105 and the clutch 104 is closed again when the spring 103 stops outputting.
 3. A spring device includes an intermittent energy accumulator and kinetics release trigger of claim 1, wherein the energy release control clutch device 104 could be installed in following approach: both interaction ends of the energy release control clutch device 104 are disposed at where between the load 105 and the static part 106 of the casing; when the elastic force from the spring 103 is subject to reaches its critical value, the energy release control clutch device 104 is released to output the accumulated energy for the spring 103 to drive the load 105 and the energy release control clutch device 104 is closed again when the spring 103 stops outputting.
 4. A spring device includes an intermittent energy accumulator and kinetics release trigger of claim 1, wherein the energy release control clutch device 104 could be installed in following approach: one end of both interaction ends of the clutch 104 is coupled to the spring 103 and further to a coupling structure of the motive part of the load 105 and the other end is disposed to the static part 106 of the casing; when the elastic force from the spring 103 is subject to reaches its critical value, the energy release control clutch device 104 is released to output the accumulated energy from the spring 103 to drive the load 105 and the clutch 104 is closed again when the spring 103 stops outputting.
 5. A spring device includes an intermittent energy accumulator and kinetics release trigger of claim 1, wherein the energy release control clutch device 104 could be installed in following approach: the load 105 given with different value between static friction and dynamic friction functions as a damper; the input end of the spring 103 is coupled to the output end of the accumulation transmission 102 to accumulate energy from the input mechanism 101; the output end of the spring 103 drives the load 105; the load 105 has a greater static friction than the dynamic friction to provide similar function of energy release control, thus the energy release control clutch 104 may not be used; when the accumulated torque at the spring 103 reaches the critical value of the static friction, the load 105 turns from static friction status to dynamic friction status for driving; the spring 103 release kinetics to drive the load 105 until the kinetics of the spring 103 is balanced with the mobile friction value of the load to return the load to static friction status.
 6. A spring device includes an intermittent energy accumulator and kinetics release trigger of claim 1, wherein in the spring device adapted with intermittent accumulator and energy release trigger of the present invention, if the accumulation transmission 102 is provided with irreversible transmission or a transmission 108 of irreversible transmission is provided, the one-way transmission 107 otherwise disposed between the input end of the spring 103 and the static part 106 of the casing may be omitted.
 7. A spring device includes an intermittent energy accumulator and kinetics release trigger of claim 1, wherein the accumulation transmission 102 may be comprised of one with its speed variable depending on the value of the torque so that when the accumulation level is lower of the spring 103, the accumulation transmission 102 winds up the spring 103 with smaller torque and faster speed from the input mechanism 101, and later winds up the spring 103 at greater torque and slower speed from the input mechanism 101 when the speed variable ratio changes as the accumulation of the spring 103 increases.
 8. A spring device includes an intermittent energy accumulator and kinetics release trigger of claim 1, wherein an optional deceleration type of output transmission 102′ is disposed to assist that even minute kinetics are capable of driving the spring 103 to mount up for accumulation purpose.
 9. A spring device includes an intermittent energy accumulator and kinetics release trigger of claim 1, wherein an operational acceleration type of output transmission 102′ is disposed to accelerate the rpm of the generator.
 10. A spring device includes an intermittent energy accumulator and kinetics release trigger of claim 1, wherein an optional deceleration type of output transmission 102′ is provided to generate output with larger torque and slower rpm.
 11. A spring device includes an intermittent energy accumulator and kinetics release trigger of claim 1, wherein it is provided with those characteristics as claimed in claims 8 and
 9. 12. A spring device includes an intermittent energy accumulator and kinetics release trigger of claim 1, wherein it is provided with those characteristics as claimed in claims 8 and
 10. 